ISL 2019 Preview: Jamshedpur FC will target more tangible rewards

Jamshedpur FC has been an entertaining side to watch in the past two seasons of the Indian Super League, but they failed to make it to the playoffs in both the occasions. The Men of Steel came fifth in both the seasons, narrowly missing out the knockout berths. However, they are known for their attractive style of football and loyal following, but they will be targeting for more tangible rewards this season. Under new coach Antonio Iriondo, they will be looking to buck the trend and reach new heights.

That will, however, be easier said than done, as the loss of Sergio Cidoncha and Mario Arques to Kerala Blasters and the retirement of Tim Cahill will hit them hard. To offset these losses, the likes of Tiri, Memo Moura, CK Vineeth and Isaac Vanmalsawma were roped in. The onus will also be on young guns Amarjit Singh and Narender Gahlot, the two Indian prospects who have been making the waves lately.

Setup this season

Under the sticks, the Indian spiderman Subrata Paul is the best bet to start. The central defence will most likely comprise of the talismanic Tiri and Gahlot. One of the most well-respected defenders in the ISL, Tiri will not only be at the heart of Jamshedpur’s defence but will also be expected to lead and guide the others around him. Keegan Pereira and Joyner Laurenco will most likely start as the fullbacks. The key for Iriondo and his team will be to address the problem of conceding cheap goals that caused them a lot of grief last year (Jamshedpur FC ceded 21 goals last year, managing to keep only five clean sheets).

The midfield is expected to comprise of Amarjit, Memo Moura and Noe Acosta. Veteran winger Piti and Bikash Jairu will most likely start on the flanks with the majority of the creative responsibilities falling on the shoulders of Piti and Acosta. Either CK Vineeth or Spanish forward Sergio Castel is expected to start as the lone-man upfront.

Known to employ a 4-2-3-1 that might change to a 4-3-3 while in possession, the roles of Piti and Acosta will be key for Jamshedpur’s success. While the former can often cut inside and operate as an auxiliary midfielder, the latter is known for his movements in the hole that drags opposition defence all over the space. Irionda will be hoping the tactical flexibility offered by these two can make the difference for his side when they attack. Sumeet Passi, Farukh Chowdhury and Spanish midfielder Monroy will offer a lot of other options for Jamshedpur FC as well. With Farukh being equally comfortable as wide forward as well, it will be interesting to see how Iriondo manages to balance his attacking quartet and extract the best out of them.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Amrit Gope, Rafique Ali, Niraj Kumar.

Defenders: Tiri, Robin Gurung, Keegan Pereira, Karan Amin, Narender Gahlot, Jitendra Singh, Augustin Fernandes, Joyner Lourenco.

Midfielders: Aitor Monroy, Amarjit Singh, Bikash Jairu, Memo Moura ,Isaac Vanmalsawma, Piti , Mobashir Rahman, Noe Acosta.

Forwards: Sergio Castel, CK Vineeth, Sumeet Passi, Farukh Choudhary, Aniket Jadhav.

Three key players

Piti

As mentioned before, Piti’s form will probably be the most important aspect of Jamshedpur’s performances. Having arrived from the La Liga, the 38-year-old will not only bring a wealth of experience but will also be expected to have the kind of impact Michael Soosairaj had for the Steelers last season. While that is not an easy task to live upto, if anybody can hope to emulate him, it will be Piti.

CK Vineeth

Despite scoring only three goals for Chennaiyin FC last season, CK Vineeth is still a force to reckon with, and he will be desperate to prove his quality and return to the national team setup, sooner rather than later. His stint with the Men of Steel comes at the perfect time for him to rejuvenate his career. With the attacking talent around him, Vineeth will be expected to make a massive impact as and when he is called upon.

Amarjit Singh Kiyam

A massive talent breaking through the ranks and impressing national team coach Igor Stimac, Amarjit has not looked back since he led India in the 2017 U17 FIFA World Cup. This will be his first bow in the ISL, and he will be desperate to make a positive impact for his side. Mostly used as a central midfielder, he has the skill and the stamina to make a difference in both attack and defence and Iriondo will be well-advised to use his talents to the fullest during the course of the season.

Target

Anything short than play-offs this year will be considered as a failure for Jamshedpur FC.

First match

Jamshedpur FC takes on Odisha FC on the 22nd of October in their first home game. Their first away game is against ATK.